Big old Colts...with cartridge loads

[Zsnark]

Hi there, Gunners,

I have been thinking about how I would like to experience what the pre-1911 Colts were like. I've got a Python which is one smooth operator...so, I kinda' think a big assed Colt 1909 would be nice. Of course, I can't even think about stepping up to the price for one. So, I think, if enough interest was generated, somebody (maybe in Italy) might be interested in cloning the New Model Service. Maybe in .45L, .44-40, .357 or whatever. I just like old Colts and I suspect I have a lot of similar minded friends out there.

If you got a moment, gimme' a response.

Z

 

[Oyeboten]

The Colt 'New Service' anticipate an operative having fairly large Hands.


The Colt 'Army Special', or it's kin, say, are suited for average medium-large size Hands...being only very slightly larger than the S&W 'M&P' or 'K-Frame' Revolvers.


The Colt Police Positive, smaller Hands...or only slightly larger than an S&W 'J-Frame' ( though six shot instead of five ).


Fas as comfort in shooting, this can have meaning.


All were excellent...

 

[MMCSRET]

Colt New Service are around, I picked up a nice late model in 45 ACP last fall for less than 400. It had been refinish quite well, but obvious. The guy that had it wanted 800 but I pointed out that the side plate was not fitting completely. He says; "yeah, I know, I took it off and now I can't get it to fit" I asked what else he did and he said he took the hand out and was cleaning, but he didn't know or like Colts. He has several 1917 S&W and a couple of 1937 Brazilians, said he liked them better. I checked out the Colt and offered him 350, he countered with 375. I paused, he said OK, 350. I was confident that he had not set the rebound lever up on the cam on the hand and that was why the plate did not fit. I took it out to my p/u and took the side plate off, set the lever up on the hand cam and put the plate back on, it fit. I checked it out and was very satisfied, went back in, told him, he got mad, called me a liar and several others heard him, I said thank you and went on thru the show. Good small show.

 

[EnsignJimmy]

Yes, the Colt New Service requires a really long reach to work it double-action. It's got a heavy, but very smooth pull. A feel that would be difficult to replicate with cheap Italian mass-production without all the hand-fitting that Colt did to make the New Service work as it did.

They are very fine weapons, though. If someone ever built the tooling and machinery to make them and began to sell them, I'd definitely pick up another in .45 Colt . . . to go with the ones I already have.



Clockwise: An old-model New Service (from 1902), an M1909, and a Target Model.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Nice set of Colts.

 

[Old Fuff]

Those old New Service/Shooting Master revolvers were very fine guns, but the design required skilled and experienced hand fitting. If someone, even in Italy (or wherever), were to tool a "new" New Service that was the equal of the old one it would retail for a fortune.

A much better idea would be to make a similar but more modern design. But anyone looking at today's market in the USA would soon discover that other then .38 Special/.357 Magnum snubbies the sale of revolvers is on the down side and dropping. What that means is that those of us that like big-bore hand ejectors will have to be satisfied with what's available.

 

[SaxonPig]

I'll sell you this one for $575 shipped. Even comes with the historical letter. Sold in the London office in 1917 as a 455 Eley it was reamed for 45 Colt and nickel plated at some point. Fun shooter.

 

[BHP FAN]

Holy cr...ud!want to swap for a French 1935 A with 3 mags, dies, 100 brass and a holster?